Operating mechanism for circuit breakers



Aug. 16, 1932. J. D.) WOOD 1,371,768

OPERATINGMECHANISM FOR CIRCUIT BREAKERS Filed Dec. 7, 1929 ZSheets-Sheet 1 Aug. 16,1932. J. D. wooD 1,871,768

' 4 OPERATING MECHANISM FQR CIRCUIT BREAKERS Filed Dec. 7 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 16, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFKIE JOSEi'H 1).. WOOD, OF BETHLEHEII, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO ROLLER-SMITH COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK orfnaarme MECHANISM non cmcurr BREAKERS Application filed December 7, 1929. Serial No. 412,829.

This invention relates to operating and control mechanism ,for circuit reakers and is especially well adapted for. the operation and control of oil circuit breakers.

One object of the invention is'to produce a mechanism of an improved form of construction capable of closing the breaker electrical- 1y from any desired location or locations. Another object is to provide such a mechanism with means for automatically opening the breaker upon the occurrence of any abnormal condition such as overload; and to also release the breaker automatically during the closing movement under abnormal conditions, even though the actuating m'ans for closing the breaker is endeavorlng to close it. Another object is to provide an improved form of construction and relationship of the parts such as will insure de endability of operation and durability. ther objects and advantages will be understood from the following description and accompanying drawmgs. v v

Fig. 1 is a front elevation; Fig. 2 is a side elevation with parts broken away and partly in section and on a reduced scale compared to Fig. 1, and Figs. 3 and 4 are side elevations on a further reduced scale showing the parts in different positions from that of Fig. 2.

The apparatus is adapted to be mounted upon a panel board and comprises a main support 1 adapted to be bolted to the panel board and having the forwardly extending circular portion 1a. Thi's'main iron casting encloses, except at the front end, the solenoid or operatin coil 2 which, when energized, causes the brea (er to close. Secured to the main sup port at the inner end oftlie solenoid is an iron or steel 'stop3,'w hich serves as a stop for the :0 core 4 of the solenoid at its inner position.

Bolted' to the front of the main support is another iron casting 5 which encirclesr'the core 4 and extends upwardly and outwardlyin two portions, one of which comprises two hor- 5 izontally extending portions 5a and the other of which comprises two vertically extending portions 56, extendin above and-belowthe portions 5a and whic vertical portions are spaced apart from each other, as well shown Secured to the outeir end of the core 4 is a core arm 6 of U form which carries a pin 6a at its outer end between the two portions of the arm. Mounted uponthe pin 6a and extending inwardly therefrom, is-a pair of core arm links 7 connected to the outer ends of a pin 6?) which in turn pivotally carries the main closing bar 8. The links 7 serve to control and guide the movement of the bar or,

lever 8. The bar '8 is in the form of a double bar having parallel portions, as shown in Fig.

2, and extends upwardly to a pin 8a at its upper end, to which is pivotally connected the rod 9 which in turn operates the movable con tacts ofthe circuit breaker to close and open the breaker.

The closing bar or lever 8 is also pivotally mounted and has its fulcrum on a pin 86, as shown in Fig. 2, between a pair of toggle links 96, which in turn are pivotally mounted upon the pin 9a extending between the vertical portions 56 of the upper supporting casting. Between the innerends of thetoggle links-9e extends a pin carrying a roller 96 adapted to be engaged-in its restrained posiyongl an unders'et position as regards the axis;

of pin 9a. The latch 10 has forwardly extending portions 100 and downwardly extending ends 10d for trippin the latch, as hereinafter explained. The c osingbar 8 is provided at its lower end with a cross pin and roller 80 adapted to be engaged by a latch 11 pivotally mounted upon the lower portion of the support 5 on a pin 11a supported between twoears 11b of the support 5. A spring 110 is located between a notched portion of the latch '11 and the support 5 which gives a .biaseds-upward movement to the latch, but

this movement is limited by an upwardly exward-movement of the plunger.

tending portion 11d of the latch which serves as a stop for the'latch by engagement with a portion of the support 5.

Loosely mounted upon the pin- 6a carried by the core arm is a pair of links 12, which extend upwardly and are pivoted on the fixed pin 12a, which lateris mounted upon and supported between the portions 5?) of the frame support. The links 12 extend upwardly beyond the pin 12a and carry between their upper ends a pin 12b. Secured to each of the ends of the pin 12b is a tension spring 13. These springs extend inwardly and are secured at their inner ends to a pin 13a, which is supported in fixed position between a pair' ing the closing movement, under abnormal 7 conditions, a tripping mechanism is provided for automatically tripping the latch 10. This trippingmechanism comprises a trip coil 14 supported from one of the horizontal portions 51; of the frame, at one side of the center of the breaker; The coil is held in position by a plate 15 supported bolts 15a extending from the plate 15 to'the support 5a.

The trip coil is provided with an inner sleeve 14a suitably secured therein for the guidance of the plunger 14b. The lower end dfthe' sleeve 14a is closed by a threaded end cap 140 through. which .extends an adjustable screw 14d for adjusting the lower position of the plunger 14?) for the purpose of determining the value of currentin'the coil 14, at which the plunger may be raised and cause the tripping action. In the upper portion of the sleeve 14a is loosely mounted a pm 140 adapted to be struck and raised by th up- PlV( tally mounted upon the frame 5a at the outei side thereof is an arm 16, which extends over the pin 14c and under the projection 10d of the v latch 10, as well shown in Fig. 1. Thus when the plunger of the trip coil is raised, the arm 16 is rotated and in turn engages the end 10d of the latch and so causes the automatic opening of the breaker. The trip coil may be excited from the secondary of a current transformer or may be a shunt coil operated on either alternating or direct current and adapted to trip the. breaker upon overload, or any other abnormal circuit condition. If desired an additional trip .coil operable under some condition different from that of'the coil 14 may be mounted in the rear of this coil under the portion 5a; and similarly one or more trip coils may be mounted on the opposite side of the breaker under the other portion 5a for controlling extendin hand, when such action may ing the osition a" similar arm'16 to engage the downwardly end 10d of the latch. Evidently these coi s niay be energized and caused to trip the breaker, or prevent closin .of the breaker when any one of the controlling coils is sufliciently energized such as by abnormal current conditions, as well as b any interlocking circuit'arrangement wit other con trolling apparatus.

For the purpose of closing the breaker by become desirable, a block 17 is supported I links 12 and extends forwardly therefrom, as shown in Fig. 2. The front part of this block is provided with an opening 17a for the insertion of a handle for use when it is desired to close the breaker manuall In the closed position 0 the mechanism and of the circuit breaker, indicated in Fig. 2, the latch 11 restrains the main closing bar 8 and bus maintains the circuit breaker in closed position," whether or not the closing coil 2 be energized.

Upon the occurrence dition, such as to cause latch 10, as by the raising of the plunger 14?), the pin 91) of the toggle links'9e, is released,

the tripping (if the etween the two permitting the links '9@ to be rotated coun- I porting links 7 to be rotated clockwise about the pivot'pin 6a. This action permits the circuit breaker bar 9 to be shifted to the left and to open the contacts of the circuit breaker and the upward movement of the closing bar 8 causes the same to be withdrawn from the restraining latch 11, the parts then mumindicated in Fig. 3. This is under t e assumption that the closingcoil 2 of the mechanism happens to be ener' ed,

Fig. 3.indicatin the solenoid core 4 ing still retained wit in the coil 2.

If the coil 2 be de-energized' at the time of tripping of the breaker, the retrieving springs 13 are then permitted to act to rotate the links l2counterclockwise around the pin 12a and thereb' draw the closing bar 8 downwardly, thereby rotating the links about their pivot in a clockwise direction and causing the pin 96 tion indicated in Fig. 4.

Now assume the parts to be in the position shown in Fig. 4 and that it is desired to close the breaker by excitation of the coil 2. The core 4 will then be drawn to the left within the coil 2 and the closing bar 8 will be rotated about the pivot 8b through the links 7. This will cause the upper end of the closing bar to be moved to the right toclose the to be again engaged by the latch 10. The parts then assumethe posh 25 bro .0 cause the closin 5 ing movement also causes the links 12 to be turned about their pivot 12a and cause the springs 13 to be placed under increased tension, resulting in the parts assuming the position shown in Fig. 2. If the breaker be again 10 tripped, the parts will function as already described to assume the position shown in Fig. 3 if the coil 2'rema1ns ener ized and to assume the final open position the parts as shown in Fig. ,4 when the coil 2 is de-enerl gized as already "explained. It is evident that if the breaker is tobe again closed by the solenoid, the coil 2 must first be de-energized.

Now assume that the closing coil is energized with the parts in the position indicated I in Fig. 4 fpr 'the purposeof closing the breaker and that an abnormal circuit condition exists, or aninterlocking relationship exists such that the latch is automatically trip ed during the attempted closure. of the er.,, In such an event, the links 9e are rotateicounterclockwise and the links 7 are caused torotate clockwise, so that even if the core 4 be drawn within the closing coil, the

main operatingbar 8 cannot be rotated to of thecontacts of the circuit breaker. he parts merely again as sume the position indicated in Fig. 3. 'Thus the circlfit breaker cannot be closed during the attempted closing movement under any 85 abnormal condition, because the trip ing action can occur durin any-portion o the attempted closing stro e. Siniilarly if the cirbuit breaker contacts be actually closed and an overload. exists at the time,'then if 40 the trip 'coil 14 be an overload trip coil, it will cause'the breaker to be tripped and the parts to assume the position shown in Fi 3, even though the closing coil 2 belexcit in the attempt to close the breaker. The same fl automatic release durin the closing stroke, or after the breaker is c osed, occurs should the operator attempt to 0 rate the mechaf -nism manually through t e attachment 11,, if any abnormal circuit condition occurs Q such as to trip. the breaker during the at:

tempted manual closing. It is thus evident thatI have provided a improved operating andcontrol mechanism for circuit breakers which is durable and.

Q8 reliable in operation and of a comparatively simple form of; construction and shape. of parts which y be economically manufactured and as mbled. The structure likewise permits convenient inspection and re-. moval and replacement of the parts, the support 5 being adapted for convenient detachmentfrom the main frame 1 and this sup,

. port 5 carrying the main portion of the mechamsm as a removable unit. It will also be" evident I have provided a form of -tions 5a on each side of the breaker.

Although I have described a preferred embodiment of my invention, it wlll be understood that the same may be modified without departing from the scope of the invention and also modified to suit the special requirements of any particular case.

' Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A circuit breaker mechanism comprising a-main frame, a closing coil therein, a supporting frame carriedby said main frame, and ifiechanism controlled by said coilforclosing the breaker and for automatically trip ing the same to open the breaker carries by said supporting frame in both the open and closed position of. the breaker.

2. A circuit breakermechanism comprising a solenoid, a main closin-g lever actuated by said solenoid, a pivoted element, said -main closing lever-being pivotally mounted on said pivoted element and rotated thereon fixed position during the closing movement,

and means for tripping said latch upon the occurrence of an abnormal condition.

' ,3. A circuit breaker mechanism comprising a solenoid',a main closing lever actuatedby said solenoid, a pivoted element, said main closin lever being pivotally mounted on. said pivoted element and rotated thereon as its fulcrum during the closing movement, a latch for retaining said pivoted element infixed position durin the closin fmovement, and means for tripplng saidlat during the closing'stroke of the breaker upon the occurrence of an abnormal condition. 4. A'circuit breaker mechanism compris-,

said main"closing lever' eing pivotally mounted on said pivoted element and rotated thereon as its fulcrum during th closing movement, means for restraining said pivoted element'in fixed position during the closing movement and for automatically controlling ,the release thereof, and guidin meaus for controlling the movement of sai main closing lever. p

5. A circuit breaker mechanism comprising a main closing element," a pivoted elemg a main closing lever, a ivoted element,

ment, said main closing element being, pivthereof, a pivoted guide for'controlling the in a main closing lever, a ivoted element,

sa1d main closing lever ing pivotally mounted on said pivoted element and rotated thereon as its fulcrum during the closing movement, a latch for restraming said pivoted element in fixed position during the closin movement, and electromagnetic means for tripping saidlatch.

7 A circuit breaker mechanism comprising a main closin lover, a pivoted 'element,'sai main closing ever being pivotally mounted tn said ivoted element and rotated thereon as its fulcrum during the closing movement,

a latch for restraining said pivoted element in fixed position during the closing movement, electromagnetic means for tripping said latch, and. guiding means controlling the movement of said main closing element.

8. A circuit breaker mechanism comprising 'a supporting frame, a main closing element,=-a movable sup ort for said main closing element carried Ey said frame, a retaining device for holding saidsupport in fixed position during the closing movement of the reaker, and nieans for automatically releasing said device during the closing stroke of said closing element.

9. A circuit breaker mechanism comprising va sup ortin frame, a main closing element, a re easab e su port for said main closing e ment carried y said frame, a guidin element pivotall mounted on said frame an connected to sai closing element, and means for automatically releasing said releasable sup ort upon the occurrence of an abnormal con ition.

10. A circuit breaker mechanism comprising a suppo tingJ frame, a main closing element, a rel asa le support for said main closing element carried by said frame, a

guiding element pivotally'mounted ou said rame and connected to said closin element, a-latch pivotally mounted on said rame for engagin said releasable support, and means carried y said 'frame for tripping said latch upon the occurrence of an abnormal condition.

11. A circuit breaker mechanism compris ing a sup orting frame, a main closing element, a re easable support for said main closa'ted b said device, a supporting frame,-a

pivote element thereon, said main closing element being operatively connected to said pivoted element, a latch mounted on said frame for restraining said pivoted element, a uiding element pivotally mounted on said rame connected to the core of said solenoid and to said o'sing element, a retrieving spring connected to said guiding element and to said frame, and means for trlpping said latch when the breaker is beingiclosed.

13. A circuit breaker mechanism comprising a main closing lever, a releasable element. forminga movable fulcrum for said lever, a device for holding said element in fixed Iposition duringthe closing movement of the reaker, and means for automatically con-4 trolling said device to release said'rele'asable element during the closing: stroke of said closing lever.

14. A circuitbreaker mechanism comprising a main closing lever, a releasable element "forming a movable fulcrum for said lever,

a device for holding said element in fixed position during the closingmovement of the breaker, an additional device for restraining saidlever when in position corresponding to the closed position of the breaker, and means for automatically controlling the first-named device to release said releasable element and for releasing said lever from said device. I 15. A circuit breaker mechanism compris ing a main closing lever, a latch fora'estraim. ing said lever when in position corresponding to the closed position of the breaker, and means for automatically withdrawing said lever from said latch for causing the opening of the breaker. v

. 16. A circuit breaker mechanism compris ing a main closing lever, a releasable element for forming a movable fulcrum for said lever, a device for holdin said element in fixed position during the c osing movement oiithe breaker, a restraining element for holding said lever in position corresponding to the closed position of the breaker, and means for. automaticallycontrolling said device to re- .lease said releasable element upon the occur-' rence of an abnormal condition and for guiding said closing lever to withdraw from said restraining element,

17 A circuitbreaker,mechanism comprising a main closing lever, a releasableelement for forming a movable fulcrum for said lever, a device for holding said element in fixed position during the closing movement of the breaker, a latch for restraining said lever in ,position corresponding to the. closed position'of the breaker, a solenoid device for acmating-said lever to close the breaker, means forautomatically controlling said device to guiding said lever to withdraw from said latch,

18. A circuit breaker mechanism comprising a main'closing lever, a releasable ivoted release said releasable element, and means for lever, a device for holding said element in fixed position during the closing movement of the breaker, a solenoid for actuating said lever to a position corresponding to the closed position of the breaker, a link connection between said solenoid and -said lover, "a latch restraining said lever in position corresponding to the closed position of the breaker, and means for controlling said device to release said pivoted element.

19. A circuit breaker mechanism compris ing a main closinglever, a releasable ivoted element forming a movable fulcrum or said lever, a device for holding said element in fixed position during the closing movement of the breaker, a solenoid for actuating said lever to a position corresponding to the closed position of the breaker, a link connection between said solenoid and said lever, a latch restraining said lever in position correspondlng to the closed position of the breaker,

means for controlling said device to release said pivoted element, and means connected with the movable element of said solenoid tending to move the same to its unattracted position.

JOSEPH D. WOOD. 

